Pittsburgh Pirates

Track Record: Solometo pitched his way up 2021 draft boards, emerging as the No. 4 high school arm in the class behind a fastball that touched 96 mph and a delivery that elicited comparisons to Madison Bumgarner. The Pirates drafted him 37th overall and signed him to an above-slot bonus nearing $2.8 million. Solometo didn’t pitch over the summer but spent time at Pittsburgh’s fall developmental camp.

Scouting Report: Solometo’s entire operation is memorable. The tall, gangly lefty begins his windup with a big step toward third base, then swings his right leg up into an exaggerated leg kick, holding the ball in his hands above his head. From there, he brings the ball down into a deep, long arm action before exploding down the mound, releasing it from a low arm slot. All the moving parts create considerable deception, only aiding what the Pirates believe is a plus fastball thanks to its low-to-mid-90s velocity, command and ability to throw it in any count. He pairs it with a slider that dives at the foot of righthanded batters and flashes plus. His changeup is more developmental but flashes solid-average potential. Naturally, such an intricate delivery invites skepticism and requires some maintenance, but Solometo’s athleticism allows him to repeat it surprisingly well.

The Future: Solometo is more advanced than the average prep pitcher, and the Pirates were impressed with his competitiveness and makeup. He has mid-rotation upside.

Track Record: Fraizer was the Pirates system’s breakout star in 2021. He underwhelmed in his 2019 pro debut, posting a .553 OPS in 43 games for short-season West Virginia. The pandemic wiped out Fraizer’s 2020 season like many others, but he broke out with High-A Greensboro in 2021, hitting .314/.401/.578 to lead High-A West in all three triple-slash categories. He was one of the few Pirates prospects to earn a midseason promotion. He joined Double-A Altoona in August.

Scouting Report: Fraizer’s revelatory season was rooted in a series of changes to simplify his swing and approach, allowing him to access his raw tools more consistently. He quieted his hands to eliminate counter-movement during his load, better incorporated his lower half and sought more extension to drive the ball in the air. Fraizer hit plenty of ground balls to start the season, but he began showing power to all fields by June as he grew more comfortable with his new swing. Fraizer has impressive overall bat speed and made plenty of hard contact against pitchers of both hands, though his swing can get big at times. He’s a plus runner who has a shot to stick in center field, but his fringe-average arm may play better in left.

The Future: Fraizer tapped into his power more consistently than at any point in his career, and the outfield-needy Pirates took notice. Now, he’ll have to prove his swing changes against upper-level pitchers.

Track Record: Chandler expected to play both baseball and football at Clemson until the Pirates offered him $3 million—late first-round money—to turn pro as a 2021 third-round pick. They landed one of the draft’s most compelling prospects. A four-star quarterback recruit, Chandler surged up baseball draft boards after touching 97 mph last spring while showing promise as a legit two-way player. Chandler made his pro debut by appearing in 11 games as a shortstop and DH in the Florida Complex League.

Scouting Report: Chandler is an elite athlete capable of throwing a football 50 yards lefthanded and easily dunking a basketball. He’s a switch-hitter with real raw power. But the Pirates view him first as a pitcher, where most evaluators feel he has immense upside. Chandler has a fast, strong arm and already runs his fastball into the low-to-mid 90s from a high arm slot. His secondaries were inconsistent as an amateur, but his breaking ball showed above-average spin and he throws a work-in-progress changeup. He’s also experimented with both a slider and a cutter. Chandler’s mechanics are quite raw. He has never focused on baseball full time. At the plate, Chandler is a switch-hitter with solid raw power, albeit with swing-and-miss concerns. He has the range and arm strength to handle shortstop.

The Future: There are few comparisons for Chandler, and the Pirates plan to allow him to pursue both pitching and hitting. It may be a slow burn, but his athleticism and raw skills create immense upside.

Track Record: White ranked as the No. 32 prospect in the 2021 draft, but a two-sport commitment to Penn State to play both baseball and football created signability questions. Pittsburgh went nearly $500,000 over slot to sign White, taking him No. 64 overall. He debuted in the Florida Complex League, hitting .258 with a pair of homers in nine games.

Scouting Report: White was a four-star wide receiver recruit and his explosiveness shows up frequently on the diamond. He’s a powerful athlete with ample strength and bat speed. His plus raw power from the right side already puts him among some of the most powerful bats in Pittsburgh’s system, and he showed a track record of in-game, impactful hitting ability as an amateur. There are swing-and-miss concerns—he struck out 42% of the time in his nine-game FCL debut—but the Pirates noted he already showed impressive adjustability in approach and think he’ll improve in that area now that he’s focusing on baseball for the first time. White is a plus runner who covers a ton of ground in center field and also shows impressive instincts.

The Future: White’s blend of power, speed and performance create high upside. The Pirates are eager to see how he progresses with a full year to focus solely on baseball.

Track Record: Swaggerty represented a relatively safe profile ahead of the 2018 draft as a lefthanded outfielder with extensive college track record at South Alabama, where he hit 28 homers and walked more than he struck out. Pittsburgh selected Swaggerty 10th overall, intrigued by the power-speed potential. But the consistency Swaggerty showed in college hasn’t materialized as a professional. He slugged just .381 in 2019 at High-A Bradenton, then spent all of 2020 at Pittsburgh’s alternate site. His 2021 season ended after 12 games with Triple-A Indianapolis when he dislocated his non-throwing shoulder diving back to first base, requiring season-ending surgery.

Scouting Report: Swaggerty always showed advanced understanding of the strike zone, but too often he chased power at the expense of contact. The Pirates believed Swaggerty was heading toward a breakout season, noting that his improved swing decisions led to more frequent hard contact, and he appeared more upright in his setup at the plate compared to two years ago. Evaluators may need more convincing when it comes to Swaggerty’s bat, but few question his defensive chops. He’s a plus defender with an above-average arm. Swaggerty likely would have been regarded as one of the best defensive center fielders in the upper levels had he stayed healthy.

The Future: Pittsburgh rued the timing of Swaggerty’s injury as it cycled through center field options in the big leagues in 2021. He has the ceiling of a second-division starter if he can demonstrate more consistent hitting ability.

Track Record: Castillo was a skilled, instinctual infielder when the Yankees signed him as part of their historic 2014 international signing class that shattered their bonus pool at the time. But Castillo moved slowly through New York’s system until his breakout season in 2021, when he hit 19 homers across two levels. The Yankees dealt Castillo and shortstop Hoy Park to Pittsburgh at the deadline for reliever Clay Holmes, and the Pirates added Castillo to their 40-man roster after the season.

Scouting Report: Castillo always possessed strong barrel awareness and feel for contact, but without power production. He used baseball’s shutdown in 2020 to add strength to his frame and work diligently with the Yankees’ hitting instructors to tamp down his overaggressive approach, learning which pitches to seek and destroy. The changes resulted in higher exit velocities and noticeably more damage, suggesting average power potential. Castillo also turned in a 10% walk rate, the best of his career. He’s a below-average runner, and evaluators don’t envision Castillo sticking at shortstop, but he’s fundamentally sound and has an average arm at both second and third base.

The Future: Some evaluators now see Castillo as a future big league hitter without a true defensive home. He’s one of several utility types with a shot at winning the Pirates’ second base job in 2022.

Track Record: A right forearm injury limited Pittsburgh’s opportunity to evaluate Yajure his first year in the organization after being dealt from the Yankees in the Jameson Taillon trade. Yajure signed with New York for just $30,000 in 2015, then missed all of 2017 after having Tommy John surgery. New York summoned him for his MLB debut in the shortened 2020 season, but 2021 represented Yajure’s first opportunity at sustaining a role in the big leagues.

Scouting Report: Yajure relies on pitchability more than pure stuff. As such, his margin for error is thinner than others, but he combats hitters with a deep arsenal that runs six pitches deep. He throws a low-90s fastball with decent shape to it, but big league hitters hit .429 against it in a small sample. Yajure added a low-90s cutter in 2019, and his most effective secondary is a 12-6 curveball he throws in the upper 70s and tunnels with his four-seamer. Yajure also throws a solid-average changeup and mixes in a slider as well. His minor league track record suggests he can throw his entire arsenal for strikes, though his command has wavered as a big leaguer.

The Future: Pittsburgh needs Yajure to stay healthy and add more strength. If he can, he’ll have an opportunity to compete for innings in Pittsburgh and settle in as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Track Record: Thomas was a shortstop in the Bahamas as an amateur and first tried pitching in 2016 only out of necessity—his travel team ran out of arms at a tournament. But he quickly took to it and converted full time shortly after, signing with Cleveland that year. He was traded to the Pirates two years later, and he showed immense upside as a developmental arm. Thomas was one of several high-profile arms in High-A Greensboro’s rotation in 2021 and struggled, walking more than five batters per nine innings.

Scouting Report: Thomas is highly athletic and can touch triple digits thanks to his considerable arm strength. He sits in the upper 90s when he stays on top of his fastball out of a high arm slot. It shows impressive ride and late life in the zone. But Thomas struggles to sync his delivery, causing the quality of his fastball to suffer, and scouts noted he sometimes throttles down in velocity to throw strikes. Breaking pitch development is key to Thomas’ trajectory. So far, he’s shown a streaky ability to land his slurvy slider for strikes but doesn’t consistently spin it. He also throws an average changeup, though multiple evaluators speculated he may benefit from swapping it for more of a splitter to pair with the power fastball.

The Future: Thomas was always going to move slowly because of his lack of pitching experience. The Pirates still believe he can start, citing his competitiveness, athleticism and development window. He’ll need to find a consistent breaking ball, and his strike-throwing needs to take a leap forward, but he has the fallback option of a high-leverage reliever.

Track Record: The Yankees signed Escotto for $350,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, and he was an arrow-up name after posting a .981 OPS in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League. He was one of four players traded to the Pirates in the Jameson Taillon trade in January 2021 and spent all season with Low-A Bradenton.

Scouting Report: Escotto has considerable upside and ran the gamut of experiences in his first year of full-season ball. The 19-year-old posted an .801 OPS and hit all seven of his regular season homers through July—but his OPS afterward was just .593. Escotto has a simple, efficient swing with the chance for above-average power potential, generating exit velocities up to 109 mph with Bradenton. The Pirates were impressed with how his swing played against sliders early in the year. But Escotto’s high strikeout (30.4%) and grouball (53.8%) rates were concerns. He’ll need to continue to add strength to impact the ball more effectively throughout a full season. Escotto’s actions checked out defensively at shortstop, where he displays the requisite range and arm to stick at the position, though he could eventually move across the keystone as an offensive-minded second baseman depending on how his body matures.

The Future: Plenty of refinement at the lower levels is needed for Escotto, but the raw ingredients of a high-upside middle infield prospect remain.

Track Record: Castro became a sensation in 2021, six years after he signed for $150,000 as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic. Despite never appearing above High-A, he impressed at Pittsburgh’s alternate training site during the shutdown. He opened 2021 at Double-A Altoona, but the Pirates summoned him for a one-game MLB debut in April. He returned in July and his first five big league hits were homers—a modern era record.

Scouting Report: Castro is an energetic free-swinger with considerable raw power from both sides of the plate. Such a profile comes with stark highs and lows. Castro posted just a .458 OPS over his final 22 games following his homer-happy start, striking out 31% of the time. Castro’s swing is geared for damage—his max exit velocity in Pittsburgh was 112.5 mph—but he struggles with breaking balls and doesn’t walk much. He’s a solid-average runner and is a serviceable defender at shortstop, second and third base.

The Future: Castro could compete for Pittsburgh’s starting second base job in 2021 and has a future as utility infielder with thump.

Track Record: Pittsburgh signed Nolasco for $235,000 in 2018 after he stood out for his raw power, and he performed well in his first taste of Rookie ball in 2019. A spring training injury delayed Nolasco’s season in 2021, and the Pirates opted to keep him in the Florida Complex League. Nolasco showed power, homering eight times and leading the FCL in slugging (.552).

Scouting Report: Nolasco’s raw power rivals any hitter in Pittsburgh’s system. He’s physically strong and continues to add strength to his frame, resulting in ample bat speed. He crushes fastballs when he’s on time. Nolasco also shows breaking ball recognition, but his swing mechanics suggest he will always have to manage swing-and-miss. He struck out 26% of the time in the FCL. Nolasco will likely be a below-average runner as he matures, limiting him to a corner outfield spot. He split time between right field and DH in 2021.

The Future: Nolasco is a long way away, but few 20-year-olds can match his raw power. He’s ready for Low-A Bradenton in 2022.

Track Record: Gutierrez was set to sign with the Braves for $3.53 million in 2017, a record at the time for an international amateur catcher, but MLB voided the deal because of the Braves’ international infractions. He eventually signed with the Phillies for $550,000 and showed encouraging bat-to-ball skills but inconsistent conditioning. The Pirates acquired Gutierrez at the 2021 deadline in a deal for reliever Braeden Ogle, and he exceeded their expectations at Low-A Bradenton.

Scouting Report: The Pirates were impressed with Gutierrez’s mature approach. He was one of Pittsburgh’s most selective hitters, walking more than he struck out, while also posting one of the lower chase rates in the system. He doesn’t post overwhelming exit velocities and there’s some length to his swing, leading to fringe-average power potential. Gutierrez will have to work diligently to maintain his body, and the Phillies said he did a better job of it in 2021. He also earned positive reviews for improvements with pitch-calling and receiving. Gutierrez’s fringy arm is susceptible to basestealers.

The Future: Pittsburgh suddenly has a glut of catching prospects, but Gutierrez distinguished himself after the trade deadline. He has the hitting ability and defensive chops to project as a part-time MLB catcher.

Track Record: Teams didn’t have much history with Head, who was a high school quarterback in Texas, prior to his emergence as a popup prospect for the 2019 draft. That didn’t stop the Padres from signing him for $3 million in the third round. He flashed explosive tools in limited instructional league looks with San Diego, and was sent to Pittsburgh in the Joe Musgrove trade after the 2020 season. Head showed power but struck out 31.6% of the time with Low-A Bradenton in 2021.

Scouting Report: Scouts struggled to evaluate Head in 2021. He showed above-average power potential at times, hitting 15 homers, with bat speed to produce above-average exit velocities from his wiry frame. But multiple evaluators expected a bit more physicality based on what he had shown previously in 2019. Head also struggled with premium velocity at times, especially at the top of the zone, leading to concerns his swing is a bit grooved. He also struggled mightily against lefthanders. The Pirates worked with Head to shorten his swing throughout the season. Defensively, Head is a solid defender with the arm to handle any outfield position, but his speed and arm may ultimately play better in a corner.

The Future: Those bullish on Head will give him a mulligan for 2021, citing his age and uneven development timeline. He has the floor of a fourth outfielder with more upside if he can make more contact.

Track Record: The Padres popped Suwinski, a cold-weather high school product, in the 15th round of the 2016 draft, signing him for $550,000. He spent six years in San Diego’s system, rising to Double-A San Antonio, where he hit a career-high 15 homers in just 66 games in 2021. The Pirates acquired him in a trade deadline deal for all-star second baseman Adam Frazier.

Scouting Report: Suwinski hits the ball hard. His 90 mph average exit velocity ranked among the best in Pittsburgh’s system upon his arrival. He also hit the ball in the air more frequently than any point in his career previously, tapping into his pull-side power. That equation yielded his best season as a pro and led to Pittsburgh adding Suwinski to the 40-man roster after the season. His 28% strikeout rate and issues against same-side pitchers are concerns for evaluators, who note there’s some stiffness in his swing. But he also walks plenty, is unafraid of deep counts and minimizes chase thanks to an advanced understanding of the strike zone. Suwinski isn’t a dynamic athlete defensively, but he’s an average runner with a solid-average arm who played almost exclusively at both corner outfield positions in 2021.

The Future: His struggles against lefties may limit Suwinski to a platoon role, but his power and plate discipline should allow him to reach the big leagues in relatively short order.

Track Record: Bae planned to sign with the Braves in 2017 until his contract was disapproved after MLB disciplined Atlanta for violating international signing rules. He signed with the Pirates in 2018 for $1.25 million. A year later, he served a 30-game suspension after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in South Korea. After including Bae at their alternate site in 2020, Pittsburgh sent him to Double-A Altoona in 2021.

Scouting Report: Speed and contact skills define Bae’s game, although added strength allowed him to impact the ball a bit more in 2021. He hit the first eight homers of his pro career in the U.S. With that came more swing-and-miss concerns from evaluators. Most agree Bae still projects as a table-setter type who should use his barrel control skills and legit 70-grade speed, with the caveat that his baserunning instincts still need work. His defensive position remains in question. Pittsburgh moved him to second base in 2021, and scouts weren’t overly impressed with his actions. Bae also played nine games in center field, where his speed may end up being more of an asset.

The Future: Without a defined defensive home, Bae may settle into a speedy super-utility role, putting even more stress on his contact skills.

Track Record: Scott was the 13th overall pick in 2018, out of Tampa’s Plant High, which also produced Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker and Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. The Marlins signed Scott for $4,038,200 to keep him from following Alonso’s path to playing at Florida. He scuffled in his first two seasons before the pandemic, but produced much better in terms of batting average in 2021 at High-A Beloit. Pittsburgh acquired Scott and righthander Kyle Nicolas from Miami in a November 2021 trade for Gold Glove catcher Jacob Stallings.

Scouting Report: The development for Scott was always going to take a while and was contingent on him getting stronger, which has happened slowly but surely. The result this year was a solid season that flew a bit under the radar. Scott was one of five players in the minor leagues who—in fewer than 100 games—accumulated 25 doubles, 10 home runs and 14 stolen bases while striking out fewer than 100 times. Further, he was one of just two players to accomplish those feats at age 21 or younger. The Marlins worked with Scott at instructional league to hone his swing decisions, which they believe will help him access more pull-side power as he continues to get stronger. Defensively, scouts see Scott as a potentially average center fielder with a plus arm and above-average speed.

The Future: Scott’s first test at the upper levels should come in 2022, when he’ll advance to Double-A. He has the ceiling of a regular center fielder on a second-division club or a backup on a championship contender.

Track Record: The Padres signed Marcano out of Venezuela for $320,000 in 2016. He built a reputation as a hitting machine against older pitchers and made San Diego’s Opening Day roster in 2021 despite never playing in the upper levels. Marcano was the key prospect included in the Padres’ deadline deal with Pittsburgh for second baseman Adam Frazier. He spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Scouting Report: Without much power, Marcano’s profile heavily relies on his exceptional barrel awareness and strike-zone control. He makes it work, using his direct, compact lefthanded swing and deft pitch recognition allows him to spray line drives to all fields at will. Marcano rarely generates much impact, though, because he lacks sufficient strength in his thin frame. Scouts believe Marcano looks most comfortable at second base, but is likely ticketed for a utility role in the big leagues because of his versatility. He appeared at second base, shortstop, third base and both corner outfield positions in 2021.

The Future: It’s easy to forget Marcano will be just 22 years old on Opening Day. He’s yet another potential option in the Pirates’ wide-open second base competition entering 2022.

Track Record: The Pirates acquired Smith-Njigba via the Yankees in the January 2021 Jameson Taillon trade. He missed six weeks with a thigh injury in 2021, but got on base at a nearly 40% clip when healthy for Double-A Altoona and earned a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis at the end of the season. Pittsburgh added Smith-Njigba to the 40-man roster after the season.

Scouting Report: Smith-Njigba packs a lot of strength onto his sturdy 240-pound frame, leading to impressive exit velocities. His discerning eye allows him to wait for pitches he can punish. He needs to hit the ball in the air more to maximize his bat speed. His groundball rate spiked to 66% in 2021. Smith-Njigba’s body is mature for his age, but he was a star high school quarterback, while his younger brother Jaxon is a star wide receiver at Ohio State. He’s an average runner underway and shows impressive basestealing instincts. Defensively, he’s likely limited to left field as a fringe-average defender and thrower.

The Future: Smith-Njigba’s combination of hitting ability and power potential could be enough to carve out a corner outfield role in the big leagues.

Track Record: Nicolas’ strikeout and walk rates improved at Ball State in the brief 2020 season, leading to the Marlins to draft him with the 61st overall pick. He spent his first year as a pro between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola. The Pirates acquired him with Connor Scott in a deal for catcher Jacob Stallings in November.

Scouting Report: Nicolas’ pure stuff is excellent. His mix is fronted by a four-seam fastball that averages 94 mph and has touched as high as 98. The pitch gets swings and misses thanks to its spin rate, horizontal break and vertical approach angle. Nicolas backs his fastball with a trio of a low-80s curveball, a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup, with the curveball being thrown the most frequently. None of his offspeed pitches jumps off the page for anything but velocity, though both breaking balls get swings and misses at above-average or better rates. The changeup needs the most work, and its development was a focal point throughout the year.

The Future: Nicolas has the body and arm of a power pitcher, but in his first test as a pro did not show the control or command required to start. If that doesn’t improve, he’s likely bound for a bullpen role.

Track Record: A velocity bump helped Bolton rise to Double-A Altoona in 2019 and emerge as one of Pittsburgh’s top prospects. He hasn’t pitched in an official game since. Bolton missed all of 2021 after having knee surgery in May. Injuries have frequently stalled his development: He missed time with a forearm injury in 2018 and a groin strain in 2019.

Scouting Report: Bolton’s pitch mix is aggressive. His fastball touches 97 mph and regularly sits 93-96. His two-seam fastball is a touch slower, but generates plenty of ground balls, and he added a cutterish slider in 2019 that flashed above-average. His lengthy arm path concerned evaluators in the past, but he was a solid strike-thrower at the lower levels. Bolton spent much of 2021 rehabbing at the Pirates’ complex in Florida, and the team is encouraged with the improvements he has made with his conditioning.

The Future: Bolton needs to stay healthy to achieve his ceiling of a No. 4 starter, though the lost development and concerns with his delivery could ultimately push him to the bullpen.